Consultant: Columbus Streetcars Could Have Huge Economic Impact

According to an economic analysis, the addition of streetcars to downtown Columbus could mean a financial boost for the city. The report by the Danter Group was released today to members of the Downtown Streetcar Working Group. It predicts that streetcars could generate a half-billion dollars in growth.

The proposed Blue, Red and Green streetcar routes would cost a combined $240 million to construct and about $12 million a year to operate. But according to the Downtown Streetcar Working Group’s chair, Dennis McGinn, the service would have twice the economic impact.

“The positive economic impact of a street car system ranges in the $400 million and $500 million positive economic impact that would be as a result of putting in the streetcar system.”

Those projections, according to McGinn, are based on revenues from the growth of residential housing downtown, including condominiums in a broader range of prices. He says streetcars would also spur the growth of retail stores and would mean increased business office occupancy. The 45-member working group, which began meeting in May, is scheduled to make its final streetcar recommendations to Mayor Coleman on October 19th.

“It is not a done deal until this group makes a recommendation to Mayor Coleman and ultimately tot the city council on whether or not it is feasible and desirable for downtown Columbus to have a streetcar,” McGinn says. “At this point, I would say, however, that it looks very, very positive.”

Members of the public will have the opportunity to hear the working group’s findings and provide more input at a meeting to be scheduled the week of October 9th.

Prospective Ohio drivers would see added training requirements and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would be allowed to accept credit and debit cards under a state transportation budget that easily cleared the Ohio House on Tuesday. The $7 billion, two-year spending blueprint lays out priorities for Ohio highway, road, bridge and public safety priorities over [...]